Tube insertion device



Oct. 17, 1961 H. c. WALTKE ET AL 3,004,649

TUBE INSERTION DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1, 1958 INVENTORS HENRY E WALTKE i BY RALPH W GREEN Oct. 17, 1961 H. c. WALTKE ET AL 3,004,649

TUBE INSERTION DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1958 INVENTORJ! HENRY [LWALTKE 5 BY RALPH W. GREEN Oct. 17, 1961 H. c. WALTKE ET AL 3,004,649

TUBE INSERTION DEVICE Filed May l, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Illl I,

HENRY RWALIKEE BYRALPH W. GREEN Oct. 17, 1961 H, c. WALTKE ETAL 3,004,649

TUBE INSERTION DEVICE Filed May 1, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l W 95 ulm f 1 faz i '1 f 1 I l m' "TI i 'il HHM (H1 l ll ML E l I T 2 224 -1l" 1 i 24 l li /Z g 429 L i n I ./32 LL] L nJ 1 Mm- L if? f T Tj INVENTOR.;`

l g ig g 1 HENRY EWALTKE 6 g g BYRALPH W. GREEN 3,604,649 TUBE KNSER'HN DEVECE Henry C. Waltke, New Providence, and Ralph W. Green, Elizabeth, NJ., assignors to Radio Corporation of America, a corporationoi Delaware Filed May l, 1958, Ser. No. 732,298 15 Claims. (Cl. IMS-33) Ihis invention relates to an apparatus for testing electron tubes of the variety having parallel external contact prongs extending from one end thereof, and wherein some of the prongs are spaced differently in the aforementioned array, than other prongs thereof. Particularly, the invention is concerned with an automatic device for desirably orienting and inserting the tube prongs in sockets of the testing apparatus, and a system for correlating the operation of the inserting device with intermittent movements of the. sockets.

One type of electron tube testing apparatus includes an elongated endless'conveyor along and on which are mounted a plurality of tube sockets. The conveyor is movable intermittently to dispose Contact elements of the sockets successively in engagement with xed contact members spaced along the conveyor path.

, Heretofore, it has been the practice to insert manually into the test sockets, prongs of tubes to be tested. When the tubes to be tested are of the miniature type, the accomplishment of a required rotational orientation of the tube for entrance of the prongs thereof into the test socket, is dicult and time consuming. This is lbecause the prongs are not uniformly spaced from, each other, as a consequence of which the tube must be rotated manually' to a predetermined critical position to dispose the prongs in register with the socket openings designed to receive them. Since the prongs of a tube are shielded from the operator by the tube envelope during an insertion operation, a manual orientation of the tube may not be so exact initially as to insure the entrance of the prongs into the socket openings. A number of unsuccessful attempts to seat the tube inthe socket may result in deformation of the prongs thereof and possible damage to the seal region at which the. prongs .extend through the tube stem. Where the test sockets are mounted on an intermittently moving conveyor, the problem of a manual insertion of tubes in the sockets becomes aggravated by the fact that the inserting operation must be completed during a relatively shortA time interval between intermittent movements of the sockets.

In addition, by inserting tubes beneath the conveyor, rather than on top, additional time is available for preheating the tubes and a faster machine speed is attained. But space requirements under these circumstances make manual loading unfeasible.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention vide an improved tube testing apparatus.

It is a further aim to provide automatic means for orienting an electron tube so as to dispose prongs thereof in register with openings in a socket, and for inserting the oriented tube prongs in said socket.

` Another purpose is to automatically orient an electron tube of the miniature kind so as to place the prongs thereof in axial register with` openings in a socket, and mount the tube on the socket.

Another object is to automatically orient a tube to dispose the prongs thereof in axial register with openings in a socket spaced rom the tube, and to move the tube to seated relation on the socket without disturbing the aforementioned orientation thereof.

A further purpose is to correlate the operations of an intermittently movable conveyor having Vtest sockets thereon with the operations of a device adapted to auto protomatically orient and seat a tube in one of the aforementioned vsockets during a relatively short interval when the conveyor is stationarybetween intermittent movements.

One embodiment of the invention comprises a tube testing apparatus including an endless conveyor having positioned thereon a plurality of test sockets spaced along the conveyor. Means are provided for intermittently moving the conveyor, to dispose the sockets adajcent to a plurality of contact members for suitable electrical Vconnection to contact elements of vthe sockets. A .tube inserting device is disposed adjacent to and below the lower course of the endless conveyor and includes a plurality of control elements connectedv to the several operating mechanisms of the device. The means for intermittently moving the conveyor is also connected to the control elements .referred to so that the several mechanisms of the inserting device perfo-rm their functions in timedgrelation to the movements of the conveyor. Y

In the aforementioned embodiment, a` plurality of tube testing stations are disposedalong the lower course of the conveyor and to one side of the inserting device. The remainder of the conveyor, including the upper course, is reserved for preheat stations. The means for intermittently moving the conveyor serves to move the conveyor in a direction from the location of the inserting device and towards the preheat stations. In this way a substantial preheat period `is available without adversely affecting the speed of'the conveyor. ln fact, this arrangement'permits an increase in thes'pced of the apparatus without adverse effects. This advantage is accomplished as a` consequence or the automatic inserting device of the invention, without which it would not be practical to load tubes Aon the lower course of the conveyor.. Y

Further objects and features of the invention will manifest themselves as the present description proceeds.

In the drawing, to .which reference is now made for a more detailed consideration of. an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. l shows a schematic side elevation of a Vtesting apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a tube orienting and inserting device according to the invention;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 aresectional views taken along th lines 3 3, `if- 4, and 5 5, respectively of FIG. 2;

' FGS. 6 and 7 are enlarged plan views of a portion of the. device shown in FIG. 2;

lFIG. 8 is a partial side elevational view partly in section of the device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a type of solenoid air valve that may be employed in the device shown in FIG. 2: FlG. 10 is aview partly in section along the line lll-lll, of FIG. 1;

FIG. ll is a perspective -view of the cam and switch system shown in FIG, 10;

FIG. l2 is a schematic circuit diagram which'illustrates the relationship between the several switches employed inthe apparatus of the invention; and A A v FG'. 13 is a chart illustrating the relative timing of the several movements of the conveyor and the orienting and inserting devicesaccording to the invention.

A tube testing apparatus accordingto the invention is shown in FIG. l. The apparatus shown comprises an endless conveyor 16 suitably entrained on spaced sprocket wheels .18, 20,.to.provide an upper anda `lower course. Mounted on the conveyor are a plurality of spaced test sockets 22 having openings for receiving the .prongsnof tubesA 24 which may be of the miniature kind. Means such as a motor 26 transmits power intermittently through a Geneva transmission 28 (FIG. 10), a shaft 30 and bevelled gears 32, 34 to a shaft 36 to which the sprocket wheel 20 is iixed. The resultant direction of intermittent rotation of sprocket wheel 20 is clockwise. Adjacent to and below the lower course of conveyor 16 is a tube inserting device 38 to be described. Also adjacent to the lower course of the conveyor and to one side of the inserting device 38, is a plurality of xed contact members, not shown, over whichcontact elements, not shown, of the sockets 22 are adapted to ride, for suitably energizing tube components connected to the tube prongs received in the sockets. A plurality of preheat stations, not shown, may be spaced along the upper course of the conveyor.

The tube insertion device 38 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 to ll. The device includes two endless belts 40, 41 made of a pliant material such as rubber. Each -belt is provided with spaced teeth 42 engaging power sprocket wheels 46, 48 which are tied together by engagement between one group of bevelled gears 50, 52, fixed to shaft `54 and another group of gears 56, 58, one of which, 56, is xed to a shaft 60 connected by a belt 61 (FIG. 5), to a constantly running motor 62 cooled by a fan 64. A plurality of idling pulleys 66, 67, 68, 70, 72, 74 and 76 suitably entrain the belts 40, 41 to provide parallel spaced courses extending from idling pulleys 68, 70 to idling pulleys 66, 76. The sprocket wheel 46 is so oriented with respect to sprocket wheel 48, that in the two courses referred to, the teeth 42 of one course are opposite valleys 78 in the other course for a purpose to be described. The two parallel belt courses engage tubes 24 with sufficient force for causing the tubes to follow the movement of the two courses and to permit harmless slippage between the belts and the tubes when the latter are stopped by means to be described.

This harmless slippage is further aided by a feature of the invention according to which one of the belts, 41 for example, is given added resilience by a resilient mounting of sprocket wheel 48 and idling pulleys 66, 67 and 68 (FIGS. 2 and 5). This resilient mounting is provided by a structure comprising a plate 63 held down on a support 65 by shoulder screws 69. The support 65 includes a raised edge port-ion 71 through which threaded pins 73 extend and threadedly engage the plate 63. Springs 75 embracing the screws 73, resiliently urge plate 63 and the belt 41 toward the belt 40. Nuts 77 limit the magnitude of movement of the plate 63 toward belt 40. This mounting and the natural resiliency of the material of belts 40, 41 combine to provide the aforementioned propelling engagement with tube 24 and harmless slippage between the tube and the belts when tube feed is blocked, in a manner to be described.

While the sprocket wheel 48 and beveled gear 58 are mounted on plate 63 and follow the movements thereof, the magnitude of such movements is not sufficiently great to aiect seriously the engagement between gears 52 and 58. While some mild gear chattering takes place, it has not been found intolerable. The effect of such movements on the phase relationship of belts 40, 41 is insignificant. Indeed, the movements aforementioned have not been found to disturb the engagement of the tube work piece by a tooth 42 of one belt and by a valley 78 between adjacent teeth 42 of the other belt.

While lateral support of the tubes 24 on the conveyor of the orienting and inserting device is provided by belts 40, 41, vertical support of the tube is contributed by an elongated U-shaped member 83 (FIG. 5) having spaced sidewalls for engaging the lower end ofthe tubes 24, with the exhaust tubulations of the tubes received in the space between the two side walls referred to for protection against impacts.

Rotation of shaft 60 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 2, causes the two parallel belt courses aforementioned to move to the left as viewed in FIG. 2.

Tubes 24 may beloaded between belts 40, 41 by means of a funnel 81 shown at the right hand end of the device, as viewed in FIG. 2. Loading of the tubes involves placing them successively in the funnel 81 with their nonpronged ends leading, for free fall on the U-shaped number 83 (FIG. 5). The funnel is dimensioned for relatively snug yet movable receipt of the tubes and has slots through which the teeth 42 of the belts 40 and 41 are free to enter, for propellingly engaging the sides of a tube within the funnel, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. The funnel is also provided with a slot (not shown) facing the channel produced by the belts 40, 41 and having a width permitting travel of a tube therethrough and into the channel referred to. As the tubes 24 are moved to the left (FIG. 2) they engage a switch 79 (FIG. 3) mounted in the path of tube travel. As will be explained later, this engagement affects a circuit controlling subsequent operations on the tube. The leading tube engages a gate (FIGS. 2 and 7) which when closed, stops further movement of the tube. Gate 80 extends to and is directly connected to a piston 82 extending into a pneumatic cylinder 84 (FIGS. 6 and 7). Retraction of the piston into the cylinder will cause they gate 80 to move out of tube blocking position as shown in FIG. 6, and outward extension of the piston will cause the gate to close as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. For actuating the piston to the two positions referred to, a solenoid valve of the type depicted in FIG. 9 may be used.

When the gate 80 is opened, it is desirable that the next adjacent tube be propelled rapidly into the orienting position. The movement of the belts 40, 41, is not suciently rapid for this purpose. Therefore, according to the invention, supplemental means is utilized to accomplish the desired rapid transit of the tube to a position wherein it is adapted to be oriented. This means may be in the form of an air nozzle 85 connected to the lower end of cylinder 84, so that when air is fed to this end for retracting gate 80, it also provides a blast of air against the leading tube 24 to rapidly move it to operative orienting position.

Also connected to the pistonl 82 by means of a link 86 having a slot 88 engaging pin 90 fixed to the piston, is an assembly comprising a plate 92 pivotally connected at 94 to a xed appurtenance 96 of the device. Two arms 98, 100, fixed to plate 92, define coaxial passageways receiving a rod 102 and constitute bearings for the aforementioned rod. Fixed to rod 102 is a dog 104. The -rod 102 is rotatable in the passageways aforementioned under restraint of a coil spring 106 which urges the dog into parallel relation with respect to plate 92. The purpose of dog 104 and its pivotal mounting will become clear as the description continues. An arm 108 is fixed to and extends from plate 92 into engagement with a switch 110 which includes a movable contact element 112 urged to distended position by `an expansion spring 114 shown in FIG. 7. When the contact element 112 of switch 110 is in its distended position the switch is closed. This shorts a capacitor 173 (FIG. l2) causing a motor to be described, to stop.

The function of switch 110 is to energize a motor 116 (FIG. 7). The motor 116 is a relatively small single phase type, the circuit of which includes the capacitor 173. When the capacitor 173 is shorted, as by closing switch 110, the motor stops. Since the motor 116 is relatively small, the windings thereof have sucient ohmic resistance to withstand the surge produced when the capacitor is shorted. The stoppage produced by shorting the capacitor 173 is more abruptY than that resulting from merely deenergizing the motor by opening its supply circuit. The advantage of this dynamic brake feature will become ew'dent as the description proceeds.

The motor 116 serves to rotate a wheel 118 having a periphery 120 composed of a resilient material such as rubber. This function is performed during the portion of the cycle between the shaded :areas of line 214 of FIG. 13. Towards the end of the indexing period (FIG. 13),

the piston 82 is extended from cylinder S4, rst causing thegate vSil to become interposed between leading. tube 221 which has moved into engagement with the periphery of wheel 11S, and the next adjacent tube, as shown in FIG. 7. Since the leading tube in this position is free from engagement by the belts 40, d1, supplemental-means are provided for controlling the posture of the tube. This supplemental means provides surfaces extending angularly around the leading tube, and which cooperate with-the periphery of wheel 118, in providing desiredlateral support for the tube. The supplemental means referred to includes a roller 122 shown in FIG. 8 providing a relatively low friction engagement with the tube, and a body 124 of resilient material fixed to a piston 126 extending from a pneumatic cylinder 128 (FIG. 2) actuated by a valve of the type shown in FiG. 9. This material may be a low friction bear-ing material such as nylon. In this way, rotation of wheel 118 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 2, will cause the leading tube 2lito rotate in a clockwise direction with the tubeprongs riding on the dog 164. This rotation of the leading tube continues until the region thereof between the farthest spaced prongs thereof, are opposite the dog 1M. This region provides suiiicient space for the dog to move toward the center of the tube in response to the spring 114i (FIG. 7). Such movement of the dog causes a surface 126 thereof extending radially of the tube to abut against a tube prong. When dog 1iil1vmoves forward in the region between the furthest spaced tube prongs the switch contact element 112 moves forward closing the switch. This causes the motor 116 to stop and further tuberotation is prevented. In this situation the tube is in a rotationally oriented position wherein the prongsrthereof are in axial register with passageways orv openings in a socket 22 thereabove, as shown in FIG. 8.

The motor 116 as indicated in the foregoing, includes a dynamic brake feature so that on closing of the switch 116, the motor stops immediately. `Therefore according to the invention the .thrust off a prong on dog 104 is of relatively small magnitude and insufficient to distort the prong. Also of advantage in this'connection is the manner Vin which the dog. is mounted on plate 92which permits a `slight movement ofrod 102 longitudinally against the force of` spring 106.

Afterthevtube 2d has been rotationally oriented to the position indicated, it is raised upwardly byv a tube inserting mechanism, until the prongs of the tube fully enter the openingsin-socket 22 as shown in phantom in FIG. 8. This mechanism comprises a member `129 adapted to en- .thelower end of tube `2d and resiliently mounted on a piston 130 by means of an expansion spring 132. The piston extends into a pneumatic cylinder, not shown, whichV may be controlled by a valve of the -type shown in FIG. 9. l n

lt will be noted in FIG. 8 that the member 12S has walls 136 partly delining a cavity for receiving thetlower t end of tube 24. The .cavity is closed `ontwo sides, and open on the other two sides. The side to the rightV as viewed in FIG. 8 is in the direction of tubefeed by belts di); liland is open to .permit a tube to enter theY cavity. The near side. normal to the aforementioned open` side, is also open for a purpose to be described. p

In the event a tube should fail to seat properly in a socket, by reason7 for example, of a bent prong, the tube will fall, back on a lowering of the inserting mechanism. During a succeeding intermittent ,movement of the conveyor 16, the roller .-122 is caused to move out of the paper, as shown in FIG. 8, resulting in an ejection of the tube from the nearer opentside of the cavity deiined by wads 136. vTo provide this movement of roller 122, a piston-cylinder assembly 138 is provided (FiGS. 2 and 7) on the piston of which the roller is mounted. The cylinder is controlled by a solenoid valve shown in FIG. 9, so as. to extendthe piston of the assembly during each intermittent movement of the conveyor 16. In addition to its function of ejection, the roller 122 is also of advantage in that it contributes to reduced friction during rotation of tube 24 by the wheel 11S. During the ejecting movement of roller .122 the clamp 1214 is open.

It will be noted that as the tube 24 is raised during an inserting operation (FIG. 8) the dog 104 is free to rotate upwardly under the sole restraint of coil spring 106, in response to the l'orce of the rising tube.v As the tube is moved out of engagement with the dog 194, on a subsequent intermittent movement of the conveyor 16, the dog is rotated by spring 106 back to its operative position. This position is determined by abutment of the inner edge of the dog with the adjacent edge of plate 92. The inner edge aforementioned is rounded at its upper portion as viewed in FiG. 6 to allow the, dog to rotate upwardly. The lower portion of the dog edge is flat thus restraining a downward rotation of the dog.

A circuit diagram of the tube orienting and insertion device of the invention, is shown in FIG. l2, and includes a plurality of switches. A switch 144 is manually operable ,for connecting the circuit system to a suitable source otelectric power, not shown. During closure of this switch, motor 62 (FIG. 2) is energized for moving belts all, 41 in a continuous tube feeding operation. Five of the switches are cam operated, to wit switches 146, 148, 150, 152 and 15d. As shown in FIG. l1, these switches are operated respectively by cams 156, 158, 160, 162 and 164 fixed to a shaft 166 rotated by means to be described in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 11. Four of these switches` (14S, 150, 152, 154, FIG. 12) actuate four solenoid valves of the type shown in FIG. 9, for controlling power transfer to four pneumatic cylinder-piston assemblies of the tube orienting and inserting device described inV the foregoing. Thus switch 146 actuates solenoid valve 167 for controlling air iiow to cylinder S4 (FIG. 2), which Yresults in successive movements of the gate S0. In series with switch 143 is switch 79' (FIG. 3) which is closed only if tubes are present adjacent to switch 79 and between the belts 471i, Lilli. The presence of tubes betweenthe region of switch '79 and the orienting region is necessary, in order to provide mutual support for the tubes. Switch 150 actuates solenoid valve 16S for energizing. the" piston 136 (FIG. 8). Switch 152 actuates solenoid 171 for energizing the piston on which the ejecting roller 122 (FIG. 8) is mounted and which extends from cylinder 133 (FIG. -2); and switch V1541 actuates solenoid valve 172 for energizing piston 126 extending from cylinder 12S, for4 moving the clamping member 124 to tube clamping position (FIG. 2). Other switches include switch 146 which is connected in parallel with switch 110.` for. energizing motor 116 which turns the orienting wheel 118. Switch 111i (FIG. 6) is normally closed and is opened by a slight rotational movement of the plate 92 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6. A slight counterclockwise movement of plate 92 occurring as the result of the movement of the dog 104i` into the space between the farthest spaced prongs, closes the switch. Further movement of plate 92 in acounterclocklwise direction is restrained by engagement with a stop 93. Closing of switch 110 short circuits condenser .173 resulting in a stoppage of motor 116 (FIG. 12). This stoppage results from a dynamic braking feature incorporated in the motor. Switches 174 and 176 are in series across the circuit energizing solenoid valve 167 associated with the tube gate 86. Switch 174 is opened when the motor 26 (FIG. l) is stopped, and switch 176 is opened in response tothe defective testing panel (not shown) inthe tube insertion portion ofthe apparatus shown in FIG.- 1.

The solenoid valves employed in conjunction with the several pneumatic systems described, each. comprises a casing 178 having a cavity within which a rotatable -valV- ing member 18? is positioned as shown in FIG. 9. The casing 178 has-portslSZand 1.84. The casing also has a (which may be one of the pneumatic cylinders previously described) and a port 190 communicating with the other end of the cylinder. The valving member is normally in the position shown in FIG. 9, wherein the port 182 is connected to the upper end of the cylinder and the lower end of the cylinder 188 is connected to port 184. The valve member 180 is adapted to be rotated clockwise by the solenoid 192 when the latter is energized through about 90, so that the lower end of the cylinder communicates with the port `182 and the upper end communicates with port 184.

Valves of the type described and shown in FIG. 9 are associated with the several cylinders 84, 138-and 128 shown in FIG. 2, and with the cylinder associated with piston 130 shown in FIG. 8. In the valve associated with cylinders 84 and 128 port 184 is an outlet port and port 182 is an inlet port. In this situation, the piston 126 carrying the tube clamp 124 and the piston 82 carrying the gate `80 are normally distended and are moved to open and unclamped positions by two solenoids 192 when the switches 148 and 152 are closed by cams 158y and 164 (FIG. 11). In the valves associated with the other cylinders aforementioned port 182 is an outlet port and port 184 is an inlet port, so that the pistons associated with these cylinders are normally in retracted positions and are moved to operative or extended positions when solenoids |192 associated with the last named valves, are energized.

For correlating the operations of the several switches 146, 148, 150, 152 and 154, with the operation of the conveyor 16, the cam shaft 166 (FIG. 11) is mechanically connected to the driving means for the conveyor. The driving means for the conveyor includes a shaft 194 (FIGS. 1 and 10) connected to motor 26 and which serves to drive shaft 196 by a worm 198 and gear 200 combination. Shaft 196 in turn is coupled to shaft 30 which drives the conveyor 16, by a Geneva system including pins 202 engaging a groove 204 in collar 206. The groove 204 is partly normal to shaft 1-96 and partly inclined with respect thereto, so that continuous rotation of shaft 196 imparts intermittent movement to shaft 30. Shaft 196 is also coupled to cam shaft 166 by means of a belt 208 engaging sprockets 210, 212, of equal diameters mounted on shafts 196 and 166 respectively. This mechanical connection between conveyor 16 and the cam shaft 166 assures a desired correlation between the operations of the conveyor and the orienting and inserting device before described.

As shown in FIG. 13, the intermittent movement imparted to conveyor 16 by the Geneva 28 is such as to provide a cycle wherein the movement or indexing period extends through about 120 of the cycle. Line 214 of the diagram of FIG. 13 shows a shaded portion representing the portion of the cycle during which the orienting motor 116 is stopped by cam switch 146, FIG. l2. The nonshaded portion of line 214 represents a period when the orienting motor 116 is free to run if switch 146 is closed and switch 110 FIGS. 2, 6 and 7 is depressed (open). Switch 110 is depressed when cam switch 148 (FIG. 12) is depressed as indicated by the shaded portion of line 216 (FIG. 13). Thus, depression of cam switch 148 causes the piston 82 to retract the gate 80 to which the pin '90 is attached. Plate 92 coupled to pin 90 is, therefore, rotated in a clockwise direction depressing switch 1:10 and opening it. This causes the motor 116 to rotate. When the gate 80 is closed, motor 116 will continue to turn since plate 92 (FIG. 7) will be held in a position wherein the switch is kept open, by dog 104 riding on the tube pins. When the relatively large space between two of the tube pins is opposite dog 104, the dog and, therefore, plate 92, move forward, closing switch 110 thus causing motor 116 to stop. The tube is then in its oriented position. The dog 104 is so shaped and dimensioned that itv is incapable of movement through the space between thecloser spaced tube prongs to a degree to cause the surface 126 thereof to engage a prong. Therefore, the dog 104 is free to ride on the closer spaced prongs. However, it is capable of movement into the space between the two farther spaced prongs so that its surface 126 engages one of theseprongs as shown in FIG. 7, for restraining further rotation of tube 24. It will be noted thatengagement between surface 126 and a. tube prong is necessary for stoppage of rotation of the tube by the dog 104, and that this engagement is possible only when the dog enters the spacel between the two farther spaced prongs.

om3odfddd LlhaEdtsSdSinctl amsd ing cmf cm cmcmcm The shaded portion of line 216 (FIG. 13) shows the portion of the cycle during which the gate is open to permit a tube to pass to the orienting position. Line 218 shows a shaded portion representing a portion of the cycle 'during which an oriented tube is inserted into a socket. The shaded portion of line 220 indicates the period during which the ejection roller 122 is moved to ejecting position. And the shaded portion of line 22-2 indicates the period Iduring which the tube clamp 124 (FIG. 2) is open.

` It will be noted from the foregoing that the first action occurring during the cycledepicted in FIG. 13 is an intermittent movement of conveyor 116 and an opening of the tube clamp 124 (line 1222) produced by closing switch 1514 (FIG. 1l). Next and during such movement, the roller 122 is actuated to ejecting position (line 220). Thereafter and during the movement referred to, the tube gate is opened (line 216). At the same time orienting motor 116 is started (line 214) and continues beyond the closing of gate (line 216) until the dog 104 enters the wider space between the tube prongs. When the gate 80 is closed, the tube clamp ,'124is also closed (lines 216 and 222). Thereafter, the tube insertion mechanism (member 128, piston is actuated (line 218) and the orienting motor 116y is stopped (line 214).

In order to provide the aforementioned sequence of operations cams 156, .158, 160, 162, 164 (FIG. l1), are suitably mounted on shaft 166 with their upper dwell or switch closing portions suitably angularly oriented about shaft 166. The other switches 79, 170, 174 and 176 are automatically operable in response to conditions produced during the operations controlled by the cams referred to.

We claim:

1. A tube testing apparatus comprising an intermittently movable conveyor having a plurality of sockets fixed thereto, a tube orienting and inserting device adjacent to said conveyor, and means connected to said conveyor and device for synchronizing the movements thereof, said tube orienting device comprising motor means for orienting said tube, locating means movable into a locating position with respect to said tube and means responsive to the movement of said locating means into locating position with respect to said tube for stopping said motor and for applying dynamic braking thereto, and means for inserting said oriented tube in one of said sockets during a momentary stoppage of said conveyor.

2. A tube testing apparatus comprising a conveyor having a plurality of sockets mounted thereon, a first power meansconnected to said conveyor for moving the same intermittently, a tube orienting device comprising motor means for rotating said tube, locating means comprising yieldable stop means movable into stopping and locating position with respect to said tube, said locating means comprising means for causing cessation of operation of said motor responsive to said movement of said locating means into stopping and locating position with respect to said tube, and a tube inserting device having movable members adjacent to said conveyor, a plurality of power transfer elements connected to said first power means and to said members, and means connected to said power transfer elements for correlating the movements of said members with the movement of said conveyor, for inserting a tube in one of said sockets after orientation thereof and during a momentary stoppage of said conveyor between intermittent movements thereof.

3. A tube testing apparatus comprising a conveyor,

said shaft, and power means connected to said element j for moving said conveyor intermittently and for rotating said shaft continuously, means responsive to one of said switches to energize said tube orienting means and means responsive to another of said switches to energize said tube insertion means, whereby the movement of said conveyor is correlated to the operations of said cams and switches for automatically and successively mounting said tubes in said sockets.

4. A tube testing apparatus comprising a conveyor having a socket thereon, orienting means adjacent to said conveyor and adapted to orient a tube rotationally to dispose prongs thereof in axial register with openings in said socket, inserting means adjacent to said orienting means and adapted to insert the oriented'tube prongs in said socket, means for moving said conveyor to displace said socket from-said orienting means, land means operable in synchronism with said orienting means and inserting meansand after said displacement lof said socket, for traversing'the space previously occupied by said tube in said. forientingmeans, for clearing said space of a tube failing of insertion.

5. A tube testing apparatus comprising a conveyor having tube sockets mounted thereon, a tube orienting and insertingdevice adjacent. tosaid conveyor, rst means connectedY tosaid conveyor for isolatinga tube in an orienting position, second means responsive to one position only of, said `rstmeansfor rotating said tube in said location, said rst meansincluding a tube locating member-movable into a locating position with respect to said'tube, said first means beingout of said position when said locating member is in said locating position, and third means connected to said conveyor for inserting the tube in one of said sockets after said locating member has reached said locating position.

6. A tube testing apparatus comprising a conveyo-r having a plurality of sockets 4adapted to receive tubes to be tested, a tube orienting and inserting device adjacent to said conveyor and including means to orient tubes to dispose prongs thereof in axial register with openings in said sockets and means to insert said prongs in said openings, a switching system connected to said device and including a plurality of cams, means responsive to one of said cams to energize said orienting means and means responsive to another of said cams to energize said insertion means, a cam shaft to which said cams are xed and means including a shaft for moving said conveyor intermittently, said last named shaft being mechanically connected to said cam shaft for correlating said opera-tions with the intermittent movements of said conveyor.

7. A tube testing apparatus comprising a socket, means adjacent to said socket for rotationally orienting a tube to dispose the prongs thereof in axial register with openings in said socket, said means comprising a conveyor adapted to carry tubes in a predetermined path, resilient stop means against which the leading tube is adapted to abut, a gate movable across `said path land between said leading tube and a tube next -adjacent thereto, said gate having -a surface adapted to bear against the said next adjacent tube, whereby said leading tube is yfree from restraint by said next adjacent tube, said stop means being rotatable for rotating said leading tube, a member connected to said gate and extending across an end of said tube for stopping the rotation of said tube when said prongs thereof are in said axial register, and means for moving said tube with said end thereof leading, to said socket for inserting said prongs in said socket openings, said member being pivotally mounted for rotation l@ i out of the path of said tube during said last named movement thereof.

8. A tube testing apparatus comprising a conveyor having a plurality of sockets thereon, a device adjacent to said conveyor for orienting a tube to dispose prongs thereof in insertion register with one of said sockets, said device comp-rising a rotatable wheel, a roller, a clamp, said wheel and roller, and said clamp in closed position, being angularly spaced around said tube and tube is rotating for stopping said tube when the prongs thereof are in said insertion register, and insertion mechanism adjacent to said orienting device and adapted to move the stopped tube into seated position with respect to one of said sockets, said clamp being closed during operation of said orienting device, locating member and inserting device, an ejecting mechanism including said roller and adapted to eject said tube from said orienting device if said tube 'fails to seat in said one of said sockets, and means for operating said ejecting mechanism after said clamp has been opened to provide an avenue for unloading said tube from said orienting device.

9, An article orienting device comprising rotatable means adapted to engage and rotate an article to be oriented, electrical power means connected to said rotatable means for rotating the same, an assembly including a'locating member adjacent to said rotatable means, said assembly being movable to move said member to locating position,'said member being rotatable with respect to said assembly', a switch connected across said electrical power meansandpositoned in the lterminal portion of the path of movement of said assembly and arranged to be engaged bysaid lassembly during said movement thereof, for disconnecting said electrical power means from said-rotatable m'eansfor stopping rotation of the latter, and means for moving said article after orientation in a direction to rotate said locating member.

10. An article orienting device comprising a conveyor adapted to convey articles to an orienting location, a gate between said conveyor yand location, means for rotating said article at said location, stop means adjacent to said location and movable to stop rotation of said article when said article is in a desired angular orientation, said stop means being movable in an angular path, switch means in said path `and adapted to deactivate said means for rotating when said stop means is moved to stopping position, and a linkage system connecting said gate and stop means for rst moving said gate to closed position, and thereafter moving said stop means to stopping position.

1l. In an article orienting device, a rotatable wheel and a roller having spaced parallel axes and including co-planar transverse portions normal to said axes, and adapted to engage angularly spaced portions of an article to be oriented, a resiliently mounted thrust member having an article engaging surface arranged to provide components of opposition with respect to said wheel and roller, and adapted to urge said article against a periphery of said wheel, and means `for withdrawing said member in a direction at an acute angle to the direction between said wheel and said roller, and means `for rotating said wheel in such direction as to cause the peripheral portion thereof in engagement with said article to travel towards said roller, whereby lfrictional restraint to rotation of said article is reduced.

l2. An article orienting device comprising a conveyor adapted to continuously urge a plurality of articles successively into a predetermined region, means adjacent to said region and adapted to separate the leading article in said region from the other of said articles, three members disposed in said region and angularly spaced around said leading article less than from each other and adapted to engage portions of said leading article spaced for supporting said leading article with its axis normal to said plane, means for rotating one of said members on an axis parallel to said iirst named axis, whereby -axial rotation is transmitted to said leading article, and means movable across said region and adapted to stoppingly engage said leading article when the same has been rotated to a predetermined angular position, for stopping said leading article in said position.

13. An article orienting device comprising an elongated conveyor having an end portion, means for moving said conveyor `for delivering articles successively to said end portion, a gate movable across the path of travel of said articles for isolating the leading article from the other articles, a rotatable orienting member at said end portion and adapted to engage a side of said leading article, a motor connected to said orienting member, a switch for starting and stopping said motor, `an elongated plate pivotally supported at one end thereof,V an arm extending from the other end thereof and engaging said switch, a locating member mounted on said arm intermediate the ends thereof, and linkage means connecting said plate and gate for iirst moving said gate to an open position, and -then moving said plate for actuating said switch while said gate is in said open position, whereby said motor is started for rotating said orienting member, and thereafter closing said gate while continuing actuation of said'switch, whereby said leading article is rotated, and then moving said locating member into engagement with said leading article for stopping rotation thereof in a predetermined angular orientation of said article.

l 14. An automatic orienting device comprising an elongated conveyor adapted 4to convey articles to one end thereof in predetermined axial orientation, and an article orienting mechanism adjacent to said one end and including a power Wheel, a roller, said wheel and roller being angularly spaced less than 180 and having axes parallel to the axes of said articles in said predetermined 12 orientation and adapted to engage a iirst and second angularly spaced surface portions of one of. said articles in a predetermined plane, andan extendable member movable in a path parallel to and including said plane and at an acute angle to the direction between the axes of said well ,and roller `for disposing a surface thereof in spaced relation with respect to said wheel and roller, said member being extendable to engage a third surface porltion of said one of said articles angularly spaced less than Kfrom the said rst and second surface portions thereof engaged by said wheel and roller, means for rotating said wheel in its axis while said wheel engages said one of said articles, whereby said one of said articles is rotated, and means adjacent to saidcwheel and adapted to engage and stop rotation of said one of said articles when the same is in a predetermined position.

15. A tube testing apparatus comprising an orienting means including Walls partly deining a cavity adapted to receive a tube to be oriented, said cavi-ty having a first open side, a tube conveyor adapted to move tubes in a direction facing said open side, whereby one of said tubes is adapted to enter said cavity, inserting means engaging one end of said cavity and adapted to move said cavity and a tube therein in a predetermined direction, a socket spaced from said cavity in said direction, said cavity having a second open side, and an ejector member movable across said cavity and towards said second open side for ejecting Ithe tube in said cavity if saidtube has failed to become seated on said socket.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 2,293,553 Magnusson Aug. 18, 1942 2,372,646 Barnby Apr. 3, 1945 2,479,822 Enkur Aug. 23, 1949 2,528,912 Rappaport Nov. 7, 1950 2,609,912 Engel Sept. 9, 1952 2,679,918 Vargo June 1, 1954 2,907,367 Cormia Oct. 6, 1959 

